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Downing Street has apologised to Buckingham Palace following revelations that two parties were held the night before Prince Philip's funeral.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister confirmed No10 has said sorry to the Palace.
The spokesman said: "It is deeply regrettable that this took place at a time of national mourning and No10 has apologised to the Palace.
"You heard from the PM this week, he's recognised No10 should be held to the highest standards and take responsibility for things we did not get right."
No10 did not deny bombshell claims that staff wheeled in a suitcase of wine and broke a swing belonging to the PM's one-year-old son.
The day after the events on April 16, 2021, the Queen attended her husband's funeral wearing a face mask and socially distanced from her family at Windsor Castle, in line with Covid restrictions.
It’s understood the apology happened through official channels over the phone, rather than the PM speaking to the Queen directly or it being put in writing.
The spokesman said he was not aware of any recent conversations between Mr Johnson and Her Majesty apart from their weekly audience, which is usually held on a Wednesday.
It comes after the Daily Telegraph revealed two leaving dos in No10 took place on April 16 this year, while indoor social gatherings were banned and during a period of “national mourning” for Prince Philip.
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In a rowdy party for a photographer, a No10 staffer was reportedly dispatched to a local Co-Op just 10 minutes walk away, to fill a suitcase with wine.
A source told the Daily Mirror they slipped back into No10 through a back entrance, using a keypad to get in away from the eye of watchful police officers on duty.
A No10 staffer is said to have played DJ in the basement, playing songs from a laptop placed on top of a photocopier.
Staff later spilled into the garden, which is shielded from view from Horse Guards Parade by high brick walls topped with security wire.
They reportedly broke a swing belonging to the PM’s one-year-old son, Wilfred.
At the same time there was a separate leaving do for spin chief James Slack.
The Prime Minister’s former official spokesman gave a leaving speech elsewhere in the building, before the two parties allegedly merged.
Speaking earlier today, he said: "I wish to apologise unreservedly for the anger and hurt caused.
“This event should not have happened at the time that it did."
Mr Johnson's spokesman refused to say when the PM found out the party took place, saying: “I’m not going to get into internal discussions here in No10.”
However, he denied the PM was invited to either of the leaving dos and said he was not aware the gatherings were to take place before he left for Chequers.
The PM’s spokesman could not say exactly when he arrived at his country retreat but insisted: “He was in Chequers on the 16th.”
- Boris Johnson
- Queen
- Prince Philip
- Coronavirus
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